Fast Pace, High Stakes
Lure Business Chiefs
To Private Equity

By

Carol Hymowitz

Updated June 11, 2007 12:01 a.m. ET

Since he became chief executive officer 10 months ago of Nielsen, the private-equity-backed media and consumer-research company, David Calhoun has changed the company's name (from VNU), cut the workforce and operating costs by 10%, and hired a new finance chief and other corporate staff while keeping most managers.

The former vice chairman of General Electric also put $20 million of his own equity into Nielsen. If he triples the $4...